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Macaron Tutorial

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

I'm in Atlanta for the next few days and very excited to be meeting a whole bunch of bloggers and foodies I only know via the screen. I've left early to prepare a workshop and also to take time to visit with friends there and put my brain cells to rest a bit. I was off to a good start by catching up with my blogging pal Chris around a delicious bowl of Thai noodles as soon as I landed. Sweet long weekend indeed.

It's funny but without being a homebody, I am extremely happy in the "here and now" and very comfortable where my derriere was on the couch last night. Meaning, I wish it all could happen closer to me so B. could attend too. Although not surprised, I am very grateful for his mending the fort while I am away for work and he's stuck here with two crazy dogs and a pile of papers to grade. I've left a fridge full of home cooked meals and a tray of these Pinch Cake Lemon Mousse Strawberry Trifles.

Everytime I set out to leave things for him in the kitchen, you can bet that I never forget to leave dessert. This time, I went straight to the source and asked what he most wanted to have. "Something retro like a trifle or strawberry shortcakes."For the occasion, I wanted to try something different and figured it was high time I picked something from Rose Levy Beranbaum's Heavenly Cakes. I used her recipe for Pinch Cake and layered it with lemon curd mousse and fresh strawberries. They're in season in Florida which is just a skip and a hop from us (and tasty).

I was attracted to this particular cake recipe for two reasons, how easy it was to convert as it contained very little flour and also because I loved the story behind the name, Pinch Cake. Paraphrasing Mrs. Beranbaum: in Spain, the cake is originally known as pinch bread and the name is partially derived from the way of eating it: by pinching out pieces between your fingers. Mrs. Beranbaum calls this version Salt because it was created in 1985 by Miquel B. Costabella, pastry chef of Salt Bakery, named after the village of Salt, close to Girona, Spain. History, baking. Happy.

But wait! While I am away rolling in sugar in Atlanta, here is a chance for you to bake it at home too: I am giving away one copy of Heavenly Cakes.

All you have to do is leave a comment (one per person) here between today and Sunday January 17th (midnight Eastern time) when the winner will be chosen at random. The giveaway is open world wide. Why not tell me what your favorite retro dessert is while you're at it? Would love to know!

Some updates before I leave: the macarons workshops in L.A are both sold out, but I've been asked to teach a third class on Food Photography in L.A, Saturday March 6th 2-5pm. Email rachael{AT}lafujimama{DOT}com if you are interested.

I did say I was working on one more surprise: I figured Seattle was so close to L.A not to go visit a couple of dear friends. Well, thanks to the organization skills of Viv from Seattle Bon Vivant, I am now teaching 3 workshops there. Two will be on photography and one on macarons. [Update: all classes SOLD OUT]. Can't wait to meet Seattle, its wonderful community and thrilled to be staying on Shauna's couch. After that trip I'll have two days to get the house ready for 3 weeks with my parents. Phewee...!

Preheat the oven to 325F/160C.Line a quarter sheet pan with a sheet of parchment paper and slightly spray with cooking spray. Reserve.

Toast the almonds on a separate baking sheet until pale golden, about 7 minutes.Cool completely and pulse the almonds with 2.5 tablespoons sugar until finely ground. Stop before the nuts start to form a paste.Place the eggs into a 2-cup measure with a spout and whisk them just to break them up.In a stand mixer fitter with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites on medium low speed until foamy. Increase the speed and whisk until soft peaks. Gradually beat in the remaining cup of sugar. Continue beating until the meringue is thick and glossy. With the beater off, stir in the almond mixture until evenly incorporated.

Reattach the whisk and with the mixer on medium speed, add the beaten eggs to the meringue, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating for 2 minutes after each addition. It should take a total of 20-25 minutes but be sure to beat for a minimum of 20 minutes. Add the lemon zest.Sprinkle the flour over the batter and fold until completely incorporated. Pour the batter onto the prepared baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.

Combine the zest, sugar, juice in a saucepan, and bring to a simmer. In a small bowl, beat the eggs until light. Beat some of the lemon mixture into the eggs to temper. Scrape the mixture back into the saucepan and cook stirring constantly until it thickens up, about 5 minutes. Strain and let it cool to room temperature, covered with plastic wrap until ready to use.In a stand mixer, whip the cream to medium stiff peaks. Incorporate the cooled lemon curd in three additions. Place in a piping bag.

To assemble:Cut out rounds in the baked caked that will fit inside the glasses that you wish to use. I got enough rounds for 2 layers for six 3-inch wide glasses.Place one round of cake at the bottom of the glass, position strawberry halves inside facing out on top, pipe some lemon curd in the middle and repeat the layers. Top with some extra whipped cream if desired.

Love the way that looks! A retro desert? My mom always made us caramelized oranges/tangerines for desert, but mind you just on festive occasions like Christmas and birthdays. (served in a glass bowl with a huge sigh of relieve because it *scary* involved caramel!)

How pretty. I love strawberries and cream, but have never made a trifle. For a retro dessert, I would pick a lemon meringue pie. I haven't made one of these since I was in middle school baking with my mom. Might be time to try again.

Looks good Helen, really good! Love the retro look. I like chocolate wafers, soaked in Frangelico and all sandwiched with whipped cream and cut diagonally, we call it the chocolate zebra log. Looks just like the one I googled below:

Your photography is delicious! I also think you are brave to use strawberries in January. My favorite retro dessert: butterscotch pudding dressed up with a dollop of whipped cream and cocoa nibs. Heather M

Retro desert, hm, i doubt you'll know about the vladishka pita, my grandmother used to make. It's a bulgarian desert (a cake with walnuts, cinnamon and yougurt - no eggs), often enjoyed in my family which i still make :) I could give the recipe if anyone wants it.

I don't know, if chocolate mousse counts as retro. But it's my favourite classic dessert. And I love your lemon squeezer! From where do you always get those nice kitchen accessoires? I think it's easier in the States than here in Germany.

nowdays we have variety of desserts plus world become so small that we can try desserts from diffrent cousines but still best desserts are retro desserts like rice pudding,strawberry short cake,sago desserts from chinese ad malay cousine,

i read this blog today very first time and really impressed by these recipes will defintly try these.and thanks for sharing such nice and professional recipes(which some people doesnt wan to share with us)one of my friend make very nice desserts but she never share her recipe now i think i will also give her tough competition with help of your recipes thanks once again for sharing

I'm not sure what exactly qualifies as a retro-dessert... but my mom used to make us a fabulous pumpkin-grand marnier cheesecake for dessert in fall. Sometimes she'd even let us eat a piece for breakfast the next morning! :)

Retro Dessert? Does it have to be "favorite"? When I think "retro desserts" what comes to mind is "Heavenly Hash" - a dessert that was apparently very popular in the 60's & 70's at bridal and baby showers, according to my mom. Its use of raw eggs probably puts it on the "bad" list today. Haven't had it for years, but I remember liking it as a kid when my mom would make it for summer Sunday dessert. (It's got pineapple in it, and Nilla Wafers, eggs and butter and sugar, and I think plain whipping cream, and that's it...)

oh, i hope you will come to nyc one day. i would take both classes. my favorite retro desert was made by my mom and pretty simple. homemade graham cracker crust. chocolate pudding. whipped cream on top. comfort food. have a wonderful trip!

Your trifle looks absolutely divine. I love taking classic desserts and giving a twist to it. The lemon mousse is something I'd definately would like to try have a go at.

Here in Australia we have this traditional Australian dessert called pavlova. Basically a meringue base served with cream and seasonal fruits. Not long ago I created a "retro" pavlova; it was served as a messy kind of trifle. The meringue was chocolate served with coffee cream and roasted hazelnuts. YUM! I'll send you a photo of it so you know what I'm talking about :D

My favorite dessert is angel food cake with lemon sorbet and fresh berries. It reminds me of my favorite restaurant in NYC and going there in the summers when they would have all the windows open. Nice and sunny, and not overpowering at all.

My favourite retro dessert is one that makes me wince, despite how good it is. It is a pineapple dessert, made in a pan. The base has raw egg, which always leaves me a bit concerned. The rest of it is pretty much tinned pineapple, icing sugar, butter, and whipped cream. Taste great, but not light in any sense of the word.

My favorite retro dessert is definitely oranges with caramel. It was with great glee that I discovered Alice Medrich had included a recipe in her book...if I can't have that one, I'll take angel food cake with fresh fruit. It's a little less "retro" in the Americana sense, but it always feels like a dessert from the past.If I can't have that, I'll take the atrociously named "Indian Pudding" that my grandmother used to let me eat for breakfast the day after Thanksgiving.

I enjoy the commentary and photos so much on your blog.This dessert makes me long even more for sunnier weather!Hmmm... my favorite retro dessert is more a classic dessert - I never tire of a victoria sponge layer cake stuffed with whipped cream & berries of any sort.

That trifle looks AMAZING!! My favorite retro dessert would actually have to be a trifle! When I was younger, I went to one of my first "fancier" dinners at Summit House in Fullerton, CA, and they offered this English Trifle as a complimentary dessert for birthday guests. WOW, I fell head over heals, the rum-soaked genoise, the creamy chantilly cream, the berries and the perfectly toasted almonds. I was in heaven. Just recently I tried to make one for myself, somewhat mixing all sorts of other recipes to make the kind of trifle I had in my head (that English Trifle from Summit House) and it turned out GREAT! I had to really watch myself, because once I started tasting it, I wanted to take a couple bites every 10 minutes. Hope I'll have the opportunity to make the amazing trifle pictured here!All the best

Do angel food cakes count as retro? They're so classic, and so easy, and pretty much the most delicious thing with any kind of fruit. I use my grandmother's pan to make them, so maybe that makes them retro.

Hmmm... my Grandma and I used to make wonderful sugar cookies together, so I guess that'd be my favorite "retro" dessert. She recently sent me the book the recipe's in and they spell it "cooky" throughout... it's precious!

Your dessert looks amazing! I'll have to wait about 6 more months for good strawberries, so bookmarking now. I keep hearing about this cake from Heavenly Cakes, so I really need to get my hands on this book! I have her Cake Bible and love it.

My favourite retro dessert:

Apple pie is the hands-down winner. My mother makes a great one and so do I. Mmmm!

Oh my, strawberries my absolute godlynessdelicius fruit. This recipe looks fantastic, with somewhat of heavenly soft and creamy and mmmm so yummy!!Very similar to one of my favorite deserts in Italian"la nuola". I'll have to post it one of this days.But as retro dessert I have to go with the simple apple cake my mom used to make when little.. Very different recipe but so simple :)thank's for the chance :)

I agree with Chris, love lemon mousse and can't wait to try this recipe. When I think 'retro' I think of my mom and her friends. They weren't necessarily gourmands, but they made fun things for their kids. One of my favorites was an ice cream sandwich dish/dessert. Layer the bottom of a baking dish with ice cream sandwiches for the bottom layer, crush heath bar and mix with cool whip and layer on top of sandwiches - then put in the freezer. Garnish with more of the topping when it comes out.

Thanks for the giveaway... hoping I'll b picked! Retro would have to be the chocolate yodel! Yum!!! It was certainly a hot seller in NJ restaurant where I was the pastry chef.Best wishes,LeeYong rolfmester@yahoo.com

This recipe looks lovely and pictures are beautiful as always! My favorite "retro" dessert would probably be pretzel salad (pretzels, butter, sugar, cool whip, cream cheese, fruit and jello...what could be better?). 2nd would definitely be strawberry shortcakes with the store bought cake cups. Good luck with all of your upcoming trips!

I cant believe I'm smack dab in between LA and Seattle. How I would have LOVED to attend one of the workshops. Dont suppose you have a lay-over in little ol' Redding, CA. do you? I'll buy lunch!No? Didn't think so. My favorite retro dessert would be chocolate cream pie. I remember my dad use to buy the frozen ones when I was a kid and I loved them. I shudder at the thought now. LOL

Ok, this is my first time posting a comment, but I have been following your blog for roughly a year now. It has really been inspiring reading about the creative desserts you invent and modify. While I do not have a favorite dessert, let alone a favorite retro dessert, my Dad does. He loves banana pudding. And the way he tries to hint us into making it for him? He buys bananas, Nilla wafers, and pudding, then hopes we catch on. Does not work, but he still tries. Have fun in the crazy city of Atlanta!

I love to cook, but I am not much of a dessert-maker. I am invariably inspired by your desserts to try to be better, they are gorgeous. We made macarons for New Year this year, they, umm... need some practice.Is butterscotch pudding retro?

I just learned how to make macaroons in culinary school and I fell in-love with them! Made me think of you! Now if only you could come to chicago so I could take your classes! My favorite retro dessert has to be creme brulee, its a classic!

Hm, don't have a favorite retro desert because my parents were macrobiotic in my formative years(and I squarely blame them for not reaching my full vertical potential :)). I am sure making up for it now with baking!

I wonder how the Sugar Tour escaped my notice... wish I had heard of it before now. Ah well, perhaps I'll just live vicariously through your blog/updates...and by eating your recipes! This one looks light, yet satisfying. Fave retro dessert: Bananas Foster, just the way grandpa used to make it.

In my family, retro desserts are a staple. One of them is meringue bomb. It is a mix of fresh black dates (pealed of course) with tons of French whipped cream and broken meringue chunks. Very light in texture. Super tasty, but calorie rich. This dessert feels very 80ies to me.

By the way, I loved the tarte des rois recipe you posted. I am making it this week-end.In my family it was a “gateau des rois” they used to bake with a coin and hard bean hidden in it. Of course the one who got the coin was crowned king of the year and the unlucky one who got the bean… well… better luck next time. Hehehe

It's not exactly retro, but I have a recipe for lemon blueberry cookies with a lemon zest icing that I love. The recipe is something that my mom cut out from the newspaper ages ago, and I grew up eating them (so, they're retro for me). I love to bake them for groups of people when blueberries come into season. No one has ever had them before, and I usually get lots of recipe requests.

I love strawberry shortcake! It's especially good when you can slice up fresh strawberries from a local farm when they're in season (though honestly, the frozen sliced in syrup strawberries are pretty tasty too).

More importantly...REALLY want to get tickets to your Seattle class. I'd love to surprise my daughter (who lives there..I'm in Portland) with a little day out and this would be perfect. I'm in the midst of compiling our "family recipe book" for our daughters and my "Seattle daughter" is fast becoming an accomplished young cook and baker...loving THAT and would so enjoy the opportunity to do THIS with her. Please advise on tickets!!!

Mmmmm! Would love to have that after the not so yummy cafeteria food I'm having for lunch at work today... :)

Favorite retro dessert - my Nana's Melting Moments Christmas cookies. The most tender vanilla cookie EVER with a perfect dollop of pastel mint color powder-sugar icing on top. Love them so much - they were the favors to our guests for our November wedding last year!

I'd love to win this for my friend Debbie who is an avid baker (whereas I am certainly not...I hate measuring). BUT it would be a win-win as she could bake the treats and I could eat them with minimal work on my part!

My favorite retro dessert would ave to be the Heath Bar Coffee cake my mom made for very special breakfasts when I was a kid.

stunning photos, and how could you not love something called 'pinch cake'. so happy you're heading up here to our neck of the woods. we live on a small island next to the island where you'll be resting your head. safe travels!

Hmm, retro desert? I would say my mom used to make these caramel squares that are so rich and decadent. That was in the 70's and 80's so I'm going to say that is retro. Geez, I think that means I'm getting old.

I love making Oreo Cookies. I found the recipe at smittenkitchen, but I'm pretty sure it came from a cookbook called Retro Desserts. I've done some different things with them too. During Christmas I made them and put some pulverized candy canes in with the filling. Delicious.

But I also love all those old-fashioned fruit desserts, like buckles and such.

Baked Alaska. I've read it was a trendy dessert in the 70s? I had some while visiting my aunt one summer when I was young and it was incredible. It's been almost thirty years and I have haven't had any since then, I'd love to try it again.

Your little trifles look beautiful and sound so yummy! And why don't you come up to rural Ohio sometime? Or Cleveland? And my favorite retro dessert would have to be a good old fashioned jello salad. I love them!

My Dearest God, this looks soo awesome. i will try it as soon as I get back home. Anyway, I don't know if it counts as 'retro' desert, but I would have to go with creme brulee. Love it, love it, love it! And love your blog as well :)

Helen, it is my birthday this weekend and I was going to ask my mother to make me either a Tres Leches Cake or a Strawberry Shortcake!!! I love all desserts, retro and modern. I still live with my mother so I only ever bake, I don't do much REAL cooking. This beautiful book would be the best birthday present ever!!! I too love recipes with a story.Love,Raquel